Psychometric properties of the Beck Self-Esteem Scales

The psychometric characteristics of the Beck Self-Esteem Scales (BSE) are described for 360 psychiatric outpatients. Patients rated their evaluative beliefs about themselves (Self Scale) and their beliefs about how others evaluate them (Other Scale). Both measures consist of 18 pairs of adjectives, e.g., lovable-unlovable, that are rated using a 10-point scale. The coefficient alphas for the Self Scale (0.94) and the Other Scale (0.95) indicated high internal consistency. Both scales were positively associated with other measures of self-esteem and negatively associated with measures of anxiety and depression. As predicted by the cognitive theory of depression, patients with a principal mood disorder scored significantly lower on the BSE than patients with a principal anxiety disorder. In addition, the mean scores for patients with major depression and dysthymia on the Self Scale were significantly lower than the mean scores for the Other Scale.

Targeted in vivo expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 halts hepatocyte cell-cycle progression, postnatal liver development and regeneration

The CDK inhibitor p21 (WAF-1/CIP-1/SDI-1) has been implicated in DNA damage-induced p53-mediated G1 arrest, as well as in physiological processes, such as cell differentiation and senescence, that do not involve p53 function. To determine the impact of p21 on normal development and cell-cycle regulation in vivo, we have generated transgenic mice that abundantly express p21 specifically in hepatocytes. During postnatal liver development, when transgenic p-21 protein becomes detectable, hepatocyte proliferation is inhibited dramatically. This disturbance causes a reduction in the overall number of adult hepatocytes, resulting in aberrant tissue organization, runted liver and body growth, and increased mortality. The transgenic p21 protein is associated with most, if not all, of the cyclin D1-CDK4 in liver but not significantly with other cyclin/CDK proteins, indicating the importance of cyclin D1-CDK4 function in normal liver development. The appearance of large polyploid nuclei in some hepatocytes indicates that p21 may also cause arrest during the G2 phase of the cell cycle. Significantly, partial hepatectomy failed to stimulate hepatocytes to proliferate in p21 transgenic animals. These results provide the first in vivo evidence that appropriate p21 levels are critical in normal development and further implicate p21 in the control of multiple cell-cycle phases.

Bone marrow aspirate as an accessible and reliable source for critical laboratory studies

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine whether laboratory studies performed on bone marrow aspirate can be used to predict values in the peripheral blood of human beings.

DESIGN

Prospective correlative study.

SETTING

Tertiary care pediatric hospital.

TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS

Fifteen patients from the hematology-oncology division of Children's Hospital, Oakland, California, were studied during routine diagnostic bone marrow aspirations.

INTERVENTIONS

Aliquots of serum and bone marrow obtained as part of routine diagnostic studies were analyzed.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Venous and bone marrow samples were analyzed for blood gas values, hemoglobin, and serum chemistries. Bone marrow specimens were found to reliably predict venous values of pH, bicarbonate, base excess, PCO2, hematocrit, sodium, chloride, and glucose. Bone marrow was not predictive of blood oxygenation, potassium, or ionized calcium.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates in human beings what has previously been shown in animals--that the bone marrow is an alternative source of blood for a variety of laboratory studies.

A clinical and laboratory evaluation of a polyurethane foam: a new donor site dressing

A polyurethane foam (Lyofoam) has been reported to accelerate epithelization of a wound. The purpose of this study was to evaluate its efficacy as a donor-site dressing for thermally injured patients. Thus, partial-thickness injuries were made in ten pigs and covered with Lyofoam, Xeroform, Telfa, Scarlet Red, and fine-mesh gauze. Gross and histologic examinations failed to show accelerated healing under the Lyofoam dressing but did show that Scarlet Red covered donor sites healed the fastest. On clinical evaluation, nine patients only showed that Lyofoam separated earlier from the underlying wound but there was no evidence to suggest that the wound was more mature than that covered with fine-mesh gauze.